The overwhelming scene before Ery made his blood boil.
He watched as his friend stood on that stage, crowned in glory and hailed as a god, every fiber of him wanting to charge forward and knock Julian back to his senses. His fists clenched, heart pounding in frustration at what Julian had beco.
Sensing his agitation, Annara imdiately grabbed his arm. Her voice was sharp, a reminder of the reality around them.
"Are you crazy?! Not now! Not like this!"
Ery shot her a look, but she was right. The room was still teeming with Nephilim envoys and high-ranking representatives, each of them potentially dangerous. Even though the Papal Church had already left, the power within this room could easily overwhelm him if he acted impulsively. He glanced around again, scanning the faces of the envoys and dignitaries. They were all watching, waiting, basking in the afterglow of the grand ceremony. Ery had no intention of confronting his friend in secrecy, as he had done before. This ti, he wanted Julian to face him in front of everyone, to reveal his true self under the gaze of all these powerful witnesses.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
When the ceremony finally concluded, the crowd began to disperse. The grand hall gradually emptied as the senate, and other Nova Roma representatives slowly filed out.
Julian began to engage with the envoy personally. One by one, they approached him, offering congratulations, gifts, and promises of further alliances. Julian welcod them all with a practiced grace, keeping the conversations in the semi-public setting of the grand hall. The discussions were cordial and superficial, devoid of any significant exchanges or revelations.
Ery, posing as an unknown rchant, was placed fairly at the back of the line. He observes the proceedings from a distance and bide his ti, his plan now more solidified than ever.
"The next guest, Mister Evan, Apothecary from Centauri City," the attendant announced.
Ery, hidden beneath his shapeshifting disguise, stepped forward. He had masked his true power to the level of a crescent moon stage, a precaution that ensured even the grand magus standing next to Julian wouldn't be able to sense anything unusual about him. He appeared no more remarkable than any other traveling trader. Yet, the mont Julian heard the na Centauri, a noticeable spark of recognition lit up his face.
"Ahh, Mister Evan... You ca from Centauri? And an apothecary, that's good!!" a smile appeared on his face as he added, "What can I do for you today?"
Ery t Julian's gaze. There was no excessive courtesy in his posture as he spoke directly in a asured tone "Lord Julius, I wonder if you've heard of before... or if perhaps Centauri City holds a special interest for you?"
It was a calculated question, ant to probe how much Julian was willing to reveal—or conceal—about his past, especially the reason he had changed his na. However, to Ery's surprise, Julian remained composed. His response was calm and collected, without a hint of tension.
"Actually... I spent so ti there. I've built so connections with the Proxima faction and had the good fortune to beco acquainted with the Supre King" Julian started to smile again as he added "However... my particular interest in Centauri is that a good friend of mine—an apothecarist—recently opened a shop there."
Ery's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. The rlin Shop had only been established less than a year ago, and knowing that Julian had spent the last six months in the secret realm, this revelation startled him. It was sohow proof that Julian had been following his affair, possibly even keeping tabs on him and the Earth faction.
To push further, Ery kept up the charade with a surprised tone. "Lord Julius... is the friend you speak of Master Ery of the rlin Shop?"
The question might have seed simple, but it was layered with intent. Ery needed to see if Julian would openly admit his connection to him in front of all the Nephilim representatives. To his surprise, Julian did exactly that. His face brightened, and a genuine smile spread across his features.
"You know my good brother, Ery?!" Julian exclaid warmly, his tone filled with excitent. "This is excellent! Master Evan, whatever your business is with Nova Roma, we will ensure you're taken care of!"
"...."
Ery couldn't deny the sense of relief that washed over him at that mont. A part of his previous frustration was lifted by Julian's seemingly sincere acknowledgnt. But despite the warmth of those words, Ery's wariness remained. It wasn't enough to convince him, especially after he noticed a shift in the atmosphere. Whispers rippled through the room, envoys exchanged curious glances, and Athena's expression subtly hardened.
Ery knew he had to push further, so he deliberately let his expression change—adopting a more serious, almost pained look. "My Lord," his voice heavy with false urgency, "the truth is, It was purely by chance that I happened to be in this region, and now that I am sure of your identity... I am afraid... I co bearing bad news."
Julian's face instantly shifted, worry creasing his brow as he leaned forward, his voice urgent. "Tell !!… Did sothing happen to my friend?!!"
Before Ery could answer, Athena swiftly intervened, stepping in. "Lord, I believe it's best to move this conversation elsewhere. Allow to handle the other guests."
Julian paused for a mont, regaining his composure, and it seed as though he was ready to follow Athena's suggestion. But Ery wasn't about to let the mont slip away. He could feel the weight of the opportunity before him, and he pressed on, cutting through the tension.
"Lord Julian... the news ca from Earth—your ho planet. I regret to inform you that... The elder of your faction, Grand Magus Fuxi, ....was murdered in cold blood"
Julian's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, Ery pressed on he turned his voice sharp and deliberate.
"The murderer... is a Nephilim!"
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